Big Snapshot: Punxsutawney Phil forecasts 6 more weeks of winter

Punxsutawney Phil perches on the shoulder of groundhog handler John Griffiths on Feb. 2 during the 126th annual Groundhog Day festivities in Punxsutawney, Pa.

Moments earlier, the famous groundhog had predicted six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow after leaving his burrow. If Phil had not seen his shadow, that would mean an early spring is on the way. But not all of the nation's furry forecasters agree: New York’s Staten Island Chuck predicted an early spring, as did Georgia’s Gen. Beauregard Lee.

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Photo: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

'Phil's shadow can prevent global warming'

The crowd waits for Punxsutawney Phil to emerge from his burrow in the early morning hours during the festivities in Punxsutawney.

A crowd of fewer than 18,000 people — smaller than usual for the popular U.S. and Canadian holiday — spent a night of revelry waiting for the large ground squirrel to wake up from its winter hibernation and give his annual forecast.